Practical changes, explained plainly
When your home becomes difficult to live in
Stairs can become tiring. Getting into the bath may start to feel risky. Even the step at the front door can be a nuisance once you are using a walking frame. This site looks at what can be changed, from a better-placed handrail to a new shower or home lift. Some answers are simple. Others involve proper building work and need rather more thought.
Begin with the part of the day that causes trouble
Try to pin down the awkward moment before looking at products. Is it the effort of climbing the stairs, or the worry of losing balance on the way down? Can the person stand in the shower but not step over the bath?
Perhaps the doorstep is manageable and the narrow turn inside the hall is the real problem. These details give an occupational therapist, builder or supplier something useful to work with. Otherwise, it is all too easy to buy equipment that deals with only half the difficulty.
Small alterations can make a surprising difference
Sometimes a second stair rail is enough. A firm chair with arms can make standing much easier, while better light over an awkward step may deal with a problem that was being blamed on poor balance. Small jobs still need doing properly.
A grab rail is little use if it is on the wrong side, and a loose portable ramp can create a new hazard. Where strength or movement has changed noticeably, get advice on the position and type of equipment before drilling holes or ordering anything expensive.
When equipment is not enough
There are homes where a few accessories won't solve very much. Putting in a level-access shower can mean lifting the floor and changing the drainage. A home lift needs space in two rooms as well as power and structural work. Even widening a doorway may achieve nothing if a wheelchair still can't turn in the hall. Get the whole job priced, including taking out old fittings, electrics, decoration and making good. The price of the main item on its own tells you very little about the final bill or the disruption involved.
Advice and help with costs
For many people, the council is the first call. In England, adult social care can explain how to request an assessment, and an occupational therapist can look at the things that are actually difficult at home. A Disabled Facilities Grant can help with qualifying work, although the council must assess the need and the property.
The arrangements are different in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Wherever you live, speak to the relevant council or health and social care service before paying for major work, as starting early can affect any help that might have been available.
A home should work for the person living there
There is no standard older person and no standard disabled person. Someone recovering from an operation may need equipment for a few weeks. Another person may want discreet changes that leave a familiar room looking much as it did before.
A wheelchair user could need more space, lower controls and a completely different route through the house. What works is the change that fits the person, the building and daily life. It isn't necessarily the product with the loudest advertising or the longest list of features.
Not sure where to begin?
Our get-help page sorts the choices by the problem you are trying to solve. It includes routes to council assessments, trusted UK organisations and the right questions to ask a supplier or contractor.